SCHENECTADY— In its ongoing efforts to rehab homes and get them back on the tax rolls, the city foreclosed on 159 properties in Schenectady County Court Friday morning, Corporation Counsel John R. Polster said.

Outside court, Polster said state Supreme Court Justice Barry Kramer was "satisfied with the procedure" and that none of the affected property owners or their attorneys appeared in court to challenge the move.

City code enforcement officials will in the next few days take inventory of how many of the properties are occupied before checking for what he described as "life safety" issues ranging from infestations to mold to a place with no heat, he said.

"We're not interested in kicking people out onto the street but we need to gain control of the properties and turn them around," said Polster, noting the properties are scattered throughout Schenectady. "We'll have to try and triage the whole thing."